Gardening garments

Abstract

The present invention relates to garments which have particular use during gardening activities. The garments each broadly comprise a protective panel to be worn in the front of the user, at least one pad connected to the protective panel for protecting a user's knees when kneeling, and devices for holding implements that may be needed by the user attached to the protective panel. The holding devices may comprise straps secured to the protective panel, pockets attached to the protective panel, and/or VELCRO tabs attached to the protective panel.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A garment comprising: 
       a protective panel to be worn in the front of a user;  
       means for protecting the user's knees;  
       said protecting means having an upper edge positioned below and spaced from a bottom edge of said protective panel;  
       said protecting means being attached to said bottom edge of said protective panel; and  
       means for holding implements that may be needed by the user, said implement holding means being attached to the protective panel.  
     
     
       2. A garment according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for protecting a user's knees comprises a padded knee pad secured to said protective panel. 
     
     
       3. A garment comprising: 
       a protective panel to be worn in front of a user;  
       means for protecting the user's knees, said protecting means being attached to said protective panel;  
       means for holding implements that may be needed by the user, said implement holding means being attached to said protective panel;  
       said means for protecting a user's knees comprises a padded knee pad secured to said protective panel; and  
       a plurality of elastic straps for securing said padded knee pad to said protective panel.  
     
     
       4. A garment according to  claim 3 , wherein said padded knee pad has a first padded portion, a second padded portion, and means for securing the first padded portion to the second padded portion. 
     
     
       5. A garment according to  claim 3 , wherein said knee pad is foldable. 
     
     
       6. A garment according to  claim 3 , wherein said implement holding means comprises at least one strap secured to said protective panel. 
     
     
       7. A garment according to  claim 6 , wherein said implement holding means comprises a plurality of aligned straps. 
     
     
       8. A garment according to  claim 6 , wherein said implement holding means further comprises at least one pocket. 
     
     
       9. A garment according to  claim 6 , wherein said implement holding means comprises a plurality of securing devices. 
     
     
       10. A garment according to  claim 9 , wherein said securing devices include a first set of securing devices aligned along a first side of said protective panel and a second set of securing devices aligned along a second side of said protective panel. 
     
     
       11. A garment according to  claim 9 , wherein said plurality of securing devices are positioned adjacent a lower edge of said protective panel and are aligned with each other. 
     
     
       12. A garment according to  claim 3 , wherein said garment is an apron and wherein a belt is secured to an upper edge of said protective panel. 
     
     
       13. A garment according to  claim 3 , further comprising first and second straps to be placed over a user's shoulder's secured to an upper edge of said protective panel. 
     
     
       14. A garment according to  claim 13 , further comprising a third strap for connecting said first and second strap and said third strap being worn on the rear of a user. 
     
     
       15. A garment according to  claim 13 , further comprising said protective panel covering the chest of the user and a belt affixed to a central portion of said protective panel. 
     
     
       16. A garment according to  claim 3 , wherein said garment comprises a shirt having a front portion formed by said protective panel, a rear portion connected to said front portion, and an open neck portion for allowing the shirt to be slipped over a user's head. 
     
     
       17. A garment according to  claim 16 , wherein said knee protecting means are connected to said protective portion by a plurality of elastic straps. 
     
     
       18. A garment according to  claim 16 , wherein said knee protecting means comprises first and second padded kneeling pads and means for securing the first and second pads together. 
     
     
       19. A gardening apron comprising: 
       a front protective panel;  
       means for holding gardening implements secured to said front protective panel;  
       means for protecting a user's knees during kneeling;  
       said knee protecting means having an upper edge positioned beneath and spaced from a lower edge of said front protective panel;  
       said knee protecting means being secured to said front protective panel;  
       a belt for securing said apron around a user's waist.  
     
     
       20. A gardening apron according to  claim 19 , further comprising first and second straps for allowing said apron to be supported by a user's shoulders. 
     
     
       21. A gardening apron according to  claim 19 , wherein said knee protecting means comprises at least one padded kneeling pad. 
     
     
       22. A gardening apron according to  claim 19 , wherein said knee protecting means comprises first and second padded kneeling pads and means for securing said first pad to said second pad during use.